The Next 6 Months?

On Radio Bath yesterday Jerry said Donovan will have to serve his outstanding one match suspension

pete mac wrote:On Radio Bath yesterday Jerry said Donovan will have to serve his outstanding one match suspension

I suspected as much. I think that justifies including this season’s appearances/goals etc in the stats, otherwise he will have got a red card despite not having made any appearances!

If you haven’t already seen this via social media it’s well worth listening to the views of the Maidstone chairman. As a former member of the NL board he clearly knows what he’s talking about and is quite scathing about his former colleagues, and in particular Brian Barwick, while calling the interim CEO a liar! He calls for the FA to dismiss and replace the current setup - perhaps if that doesn’t come about he will lead a rebellion by the clubs....

https://www.pscp.tv/olivernjash/1dRKZNPXkBzKB?fbclid=IwAR3D27a4b03KHpFsMo4LiyqmwD3oipxHxc30svdr9tUVLMXrxUNEQ-Bs-UU

I am all for the present board being replaced, as long as the new one doesn't include the chairs from Dorking, Gloucester and Concord!

This topic has almost come to an end, when the FA ratify the season being null and void.

The next six months has a roadmap, both for society nationally and football at Bath City FC.

Gerry is as eloquent as ever  - https://www.bathcityfc.com/watch-bcirs-mark-stillman-catch-up-with-manager-jerry-gill - and clearly has plans mapped out which are solid in their foundations.  The general public MUST stay focused on their behaviour to ensure the continuing drop in the spread of the virus - https://theconversation.com/lockdown-roadmap-is-the-uks-exit-plan-the-right-one-three-experts-give-their-view-155678 - or the best laid plans of mice and men...

Never one to know when he is beaten, the Dorking chairman has said today, according to Ollie Bayliss, "Our QC believes the voting process was unlawful. Resolution 1 was required to be one vote per team and Resolution 3 should have been a Special Resolution with 75%". He wants the league to continue until this is resolved.

Ollie has also quoted the Eastbourne chairman as saying "It is our position as the 18 clubs...that the League has acted against its own constitution and against its own rules of voting and that the resolutions are accordingly unlawful". 

As somebody pointed out, if they felt the resolutions were unlawful perhaps they shouldn't have voted on them (they had 28 days to come up with this). 

Knowing his concern for the integrity of the league, I am sure Marc White at Dorking would have raised the same concerns if the vote had gone the other way...

Surely the NL would have run the voting options past their solicitors before presenting them to the clubs. And yes, I know we’re talking about football’s equivalent of Mr Bean.

Can’t see a legal case here. It smacks of ‘we didn’t get the result we want - call your lawyer’

They seem to have money to waste

The bloke has been given far too much air time. Dorking’s fans are clearly in awe of him but he doesn’t represent the views of most other clubs.

I see Dorking are playing Gloucester in a friendly on Saturday - I think they probably deserve each other but that is a lot of ego in one place!

Ollie Bayliss is reporting today that “following meetings with National League officials, a proposal for a National League North and South competition has been tabled”, with the intention that it would result in promotion. Clubs at Step 2 will be able to opt in or out.

Apparently 15 to 20 Step 2 clubs have registered an interest - ironically a similar number to the losing minority in the null and void vote! It needs the approval of the clubs, the Alliance Committee (who are apparently meeting next Monday) and the FA.

Just going off to look up the word integrity again.

As long as we're not one of those clubs expressing an interest I say bring it on! With such weak leadership from the NL some clubs were never going to let things rest. There is a suspicion that a u-turn from Barwick and his cronies is on the cards as the EFL won't permit relegation to the NL if there's no movement between steps 1 and 2.

The idea of the NL letting this idea progress and then facing action from the likes of King's Lynn and Wealdstone could lead to a very entertaining few weeks coming up.

One day the FA is going to wake up to what is happening on its watch...

On the basis that we have just loaned Donovan Wilson to Sutton for the rest of the season I assume we aren't one of the clubs expressing an interest in the 'mini league' - if we were it would go against everything we had said over the last few weeks.

For anyone who has not listened to the interview Ollie Bayliss held with the NL's general manager, here's a link...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0989527

He talks about the situation at step 2 at 21' 10" and you may wish to skip to it as he gives a very long winded set of answers elsewhere!

Assuming he comes back then he will have cleared his suspension!

As a matter of interest if a player were to be sent off in the last game of an agreed loan period should the loanee club be responsible for his wages after his return until the suspension is completed?

I believe any club that is prepared to continue playing should return any grant received so far. If they are wealthy enough to carry on without grant income then it could be argued that they never needed it in the first instance!

My thoughts entirely.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/mar/06/voided-national-league-divisions-may-resume-in-new-and-improvised-format

Nice photo!

Presumably if the League's clubs do get to vote on this nonsense the same 28 day deadline will apply. Those opposed to it may take advantage of that...

Anybody desperate for a Twerton Park football fix can watch Bristol City women live on BT Sport this evening.

Their game is at Ashton Gate tonight so no TP on telly sadly.

Correct-Ashley

It was advertised as TP but as you say it is Ashton Gate.

Boreham Wood have put up on their website (and on Twitter) a letter they have received from Sport England rejecting their application for a 'winter survival loan'. The reason given is that applicants must be "At risk of no longer trading viably by the end of this financial year and/or failure to provide support would inflict long-term damage on the sport with associated severe consequences" and "Unfortunately to be eligible for support an organisation must have a financial need by the end of 31st March 2021. The submission from the club indicates that there is no financial need as of this date – nor at the end of June 2021 (end of season) or by end of March 2022". 

I have to say I thought that that was the criteria for getting a grant, and the impression  seemed to be that loans were likely to be forthcoming if grants were refused. It seems from what Boreham Wood have said that other clubs have got a similar response, if so it might change the view of some of those who are keen to continue.

It is fair to say that Boreham Wood haven't got much sympathy on social media. They are seen as one of the clubs that did well out of the National Lottery money because they would have got less based on attendances, and there is a suggestion that they put some of it towards strengthening their squad.

LB wrote:Boreham Wood have put up on their website (and on Twitter) a letter they have received from Sport England rejecting their application for a 'winter survival loan'. The reason given is that applicants must be "At risk of no longer trading viably by the end of this financial year and/or failure to provide support would inflict long-term damage on the sport with associated severe consequences" and "Unfortunately to be eligible for support an organisation must have a financial need by the end of 31st March 2021. The submission from the club indicates that there is no financial need as of this date – nor at the end of June 2021 (end of season) or by end of March 2022". 

I have to say I thought that that was the criteria for getting a grant, and the impression  seemed to be that loans were likely to be forthcoming if grants were refused. It seems from what Boreham Wood have said that other clubs have got a similar response, if so it might change the view of some of those who are keen to continue.

It is fair to say that Boreham Wood haven't got much sympathy on social media. They are seen as one of the clubs that did well out of the National Lottery money because they would have got less based on attendances, and there is a suggestion that they put some of it towards strengthening their squad.

Apparently these were the funding applications put in before the result of the 'null and void' vote was known. Clubs have until the end of next week I think it is to make fresh applications. Presumably the clubs keen to carry on playing won't need to apply...

That is quite funny. If you want to carry on playing it demonstrates you do not need the grant to survive and so you won't get it, and if you don't want to carry on you won't apply so you won't get it.

Sounds like the Catch 22

https://www.bathcityfc.com/the-national-league-and-vanarama-agree-new-3-year-sponsorship-deal/

Quite why Vanarama want to continue their association with this organisation is a mystery after all the bad publicity of the past 12 months. Still at least the elusive Barwick has uttered something at long last even if its not on the most pressing issues.